Reel



April 11, 1950 A. A. BUREAU 2,503,374

REEL

Filed larch 15, 1945 IN VE N TOE H. A. Bu/eanu HTTOENE Y Patented Apr. 11, 1950 REEL Arthur A. Bureau, Chicago, 11]., assignor to Westem Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 15, 1945, Serial No. 582,826

7 Claims. 1

ticularly to metal reels having reinforced heads.

An object of this invention is to provide a rugged reel of simple construction which may be easily fabricated.

In accordance with one embodiment of the in-. vention, there is provided a metal reel having a cylindrical drum upon each end of which is mounted a head comprising an annular sheet having an integral inner, cylindrical, outwardly extending flange engaging and welded to the end portion of the periphery of the drum and havmg a peripheral rim flange and a plurality of Z- shaped reinforcing members extending obliquely between the flanges and welded thereto.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment thereof, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the reel, and

Fig. 2 is an end view of the reel.

The reel III embodying this invention may be used for supporting cable, wire and the like and comprises a drum II on the ends of which are mounted reel heads I2 and I3. The drum II is formed from a sheet of metal cut to the proper size and rolled into a cylinder with the ends abutting and welded together, as shown at I5.

The reel head comprises an annular metal sheet II having an inner cylindrical flange I8 formed thereon and an outer cylindrical flange or rim I9 integrally formed thereon. The inner diameter of the cylindrical flange I8 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the drum I I. The reel head is assembled on the drum II with the cylindrical flange I8 engaging the drum and with the edge of the flange I8 flush with the end of the drum II. The flange I8 is spot welded to the drum at various points around its circumference, as indicated at 28.

To strengthen the reel head and the outer flange or rim is thereon, a plurality of reinforcing members 22 are secured thereto in spaced relation around the head. Each of the reinforcing members is made from a strip of metal cut to the correct length and formed into a Z- shape to provide an inclined strut or brace 23 having oppositely bent end portions 24 and 25 by which the member is attached to the head flanges. The reinforcing members 22 are positioned on the head so that one end of the strut 23 .engages the outer portion of the head sheet I! with the end 25 engaging the flange I9 and extends obliquely therefrom to the inner flange I8 where the end 24 engages the flange I8. The ends 25 of the members 22 are spot welded to the rim flange I9, as indicated at 21, and the ends 24 are spot welded to the flange I 8, as indicated at 28. The reinforced reel head as thus constructed has considerable strength and can withstand relatively severe stresses axially and radially.

In fabricating the reel, the reinforcing members may be first spot welded in place on the head to form a complete reel head after which the reel head may be assembled onto the drum and spot welded thereto or the head may be first assembled on and spot welded to the drum after which the reinforced members 22 may be placed in position on the reel head and spot Welded thereto.

A channel shaped member 30 is welded to the inside of each end of the drum I I and is apertured at 3| to provide means for rotatably supporting the reel for winding or unwinding material.

From the above description, it will be seen that the component parts of the reel may be formed to the desired shape from sheet stock and quickly and easily assembled together and welded, resulting in a reinforced reel having considerable strength and being relatively inexpensive.

What is claimed is:

1. A reel comprising a drum, an annular head formed of sheet metal and having an integral inner flange engaging said drum and being secured thereto and an integral rim flange, and a. plurality of reinforcing members separate from the head and spaced therearound and extending obliquely from the outer edge of said inner flange to the inner edge of said rim flange and being bonded thereto.

2. A reel comprising a drum, an annular head having integral inner and outer cylindrical.

flanges, said inner flange engaging and being secured to said drum, and a plurality of reinforcing members separate from the head and spaced therearound and obliquely disposed relative to the head extending between said inner and outer flanges and having bent end portions engaging said flanges and being bonded thereto.

3. A reel comprising a drum, an annular head formed of sheet metal and provided with an integral inner flange and an integral rim flange, said inner flange engaging the periphery of and being secured to said drum, and a plurality of separately formed strap reinforcing members spaced around and engaging the outer circumferential portions of said head and extending obliquely therefrom to said inner flange and having attaching portions engaging said flanges and being secured thereto.

4. A reel comprising a drum, an annular head having integral inner and outer peripheral flanges, said inner peripheral flange engaging the peripheral surface of and being secured to said drum, and a plurality of Z-shaped reinforcin members spaced around said head, said members engaging the head adjacent the outer flange and extending obliquely therefrom to the inner flange and having oppositely bent end portions engaging the flanges and being secured thereto.

5. A reel comprising a drum, an annular head having integral inner and outer peripheral flanges, said inner flange engaging the peripheral surface of and being secured to said drum, and a plurality of reinforcing members spaced around the head, said reinforcing members being Z-shaped and having their oppositely directed end portions engaging the flanges of said head and being secured thereto and the intermediate portions thereof being inclined toward the outer portion of the head.

6. A reel comprising a drum, an annular head having integral inner and outer peripheral flanges, said inner flange engaging the peripheral surface of said drum and being secured thereto, a 2

plurality of reinforcing members engaging the head adjacent the outer flange and extending obliquely therefrom to said inner flange, and oppositely directed end portions on said reinforcing members engaging the adjacent head flanges and being secured thereto.

7. A reel comprising a drum, an annular head having integral inner and outer peripheral flanges, said inner flange engaging the peripheral surface of and being secured to said drum, and a plurality of reinforcing members engaging the outer peripheral flange and the head at their juncture and extending angularly from the head to the inner flange thereof and being bonded to the flanges.

ARTHUR A. BUREAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,558,264 Hathaway Oct. 20, 1925 1,672,167 Mossberg June 5, 1928 1,824,639 Trautvetter Sept. 22, 1931 1,920,181 Blount et al Aug. 1, 1933 2,099,102 Brown et al Nov. 16, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 29,441 Great Britain Nov. 26, 1898 of 1897 584,842 France Feb. 14, 1925 

